"Mary Jo?" Alfred questioned in dismay as he gazed upon their surprise house guest. Yes there in fact did stand his and Arthur's blonde haired blue eyed surrogate. She stood there on the steps dressed in a light lavender shirt that billowed out over her stomach- which had definitely grown and rounded with child since the last time Alfred had laid eyes on the petite girl- and a pair of jeans; a small bag slung around her shoulder. Her cheeks were blotchy and her pale blue eyes were red rimmed as if the poor girl had been crying her little heart out.

She nervously tucked a lock of her curly blonde hair behind her ear and adjusted the bag on her arm. "Uh... h-hi Alfred I'm uh... I'm real sorry to be botherin' y'all so late at night, but uh..." Her hurt oakie twanged voice trailed off at the end as she bit her lower lip and looked as if she was trying her hardest not to burst out crying.

Alfred wasn't sure about what had happened to her- fortunately the only hurt thing about her appeared to be her feelings- but he knew she needed help. "No you're not bothering us at all; come on it." He opened the door wider and stepped aside allowing the southern girl to step inside; a small word of thanks passing out her lips as she did.

"Al who's at the door?" Arthur called from down the hall in the kitchen. His foot steps resounding off the walls as he began making his way down the hall to see for himself. The brit froze and nearly dropped the dish towel he had been wiping his hands on when his emerald eyed gaze rested upon Mary Jo. "Mary Jo?" He had the identical reaction that his husband had had only a few moments ago.

"Hi Arthur... I'm real sorry about botherin' y'all..." She apologized again nervously.

"No you're not bothering us at all, but what brought you here? Is there something wrong?" What could she possibly be doing here so late? There had to be something wrong? Maybe there was something wrong with the baby... Worry instantly consumed the brit.

"Well uh.. N-Nate and I kinda got into a big fight..."

Rage overcame the American. "He didn't hurt you did he?" Alfred demanded. He didn't care who the hell Nathan thought he was, no one hurt a woman let alone a pregnant one. If the hulking found out that, that pissy son of a bitch so much as laid a hand on her there would be hell to pay.

"No, no he didn't hurt me at all!" She quickly dismissed Alfred's assumption when she sensed his sudden anger. "It was only a lot of yellin', but still... I couldn't stand to be around him anymore..."

Alfred and Arthur exchanged a brief glance; an entire conversation passing between them as their gazes met. "Well then it seems you've been through a lot tonight. Why don't you and Alfred go have a seat in the living room and I'll make you a nice hot cup of tea."

"Yeah come on in; take a load off." Alfred offered warmly as he led her into the living room and Arthur headed off to put the kettle on.

Alfred felt kinda weird; sitting across from her on the chair while she sat on the couch. He didn't want to keep staring down at her swelled stomach, but he felt his eyes drawn there... That was his child... his and Arthur's. This was the first time Alfred had seen her in, well, four months. The sight of it all gave him a good feeling; a warm one that settled deep in his chest and just caused a smile to spread across his lips. She looked a bit nervous at the fact that Alfred kept staring at her; nervously glancing from side to side in hopes that it was something around her that he was staring out and not actually her.

"Is Earl Grey tea alright Mary Jo or would you prefer a different kind?" Arthur thankfully called from a kitchen breaking Alfred's paternal trance.

"N-no Earl Grey is fine." She called back.

Alfred paused for a moment as the silence settled back in. "Ha-ha sorry I didn't mean to be staring." He laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his neck. "Jus' kinda having a bit of a reality check."

"Oh no, no worries." She dismissed as she seemed more relaxed with an explanation to Alfred's intense staring. Arthur came into the room with a serving tray laden with two cups a tea (A cup of coffee out of habit for Alfred) and the cream and sugar that went with it. A plate of newly warmed up- and slightly charred- scones and a few small dishes of jam, butter, and clotted cream. Alfred grimaced a little bit as he set eyes on the scones; his stomach slightly twisted as he remembered the last time he had ate one of said baked English "goods."He nervously looked over at Mary Jo while Arthur's back had been turned to him. "Don't eat the scones." He mouthed silently as he made a slicing gesture over his neck to make sure his message was a matter or great sickness and health. He didn't want his child exposed to his husband's horrible cooking just yet (Or ever if he could help it) plus Mary Jo seemed to have been through enough tonight; stomach problems didn't need to be added to that list.

She cocked her head to one side in questions; gold blonde bangs bouncing against the side of her face as she eyed him curiously. He mouthed his warning again, but still she seemed clueless as to what exactly the American was trying to convey.

Arthur swiftly turned on his heel and faced Alfred; lips pulled down in a scowl and fists resting against his rather prominent hips. "Are you insulting my cooking behind my back?" He asked as he cocked one thick brow.

Alfred froze. "What? Me? No, no of course not I- I love your," He reached and grabbed one of the biscuit like pastries. He was going to brave eating one to prove to Arthur his words were true (Sort of) but once he held one of the biscuits in his hands he lost his nerve. "... Rock hard and burned scones..." He nervously flashed his husband an apologetic grin as he realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud.

"Git," Arthur scoffed another one of his weird British insults. "It's burnt not burned. Use the English language properly or don't use it at all." The petit Brit crossed his arm tightly over his chest and sat down on the same couch Mary Jo sat on. The small blonde girl let out a small laugh as a near forced smile drew up on her lips. But soon he smile faded as she stared down into the steaming tea in her the cup she cradled ever so gently in her hands sitting atop her slowly disappearing lap.

Alfred and Arthur exchanged another glance; both not knowing how to really deal with this sort of situation. Arthur deemed maybe it would best if he tried to console the poor girl first. He hesitated a moment before gently placing his hand reassuringly on Mary Jo's shoulder; she glanced up at him with a hopeful look in her teary blue eyes. Arthur swallowed hard. He was never one to be very good at this sort of thing. "... Cheer up, love." He offered kindly. "Just be patient, I'm sure all Nathan needs is just a short time to think. I bet he'll call soon practically begging at your feet for forgiveness." She seemed to brighten up a bit. "Like I always say, keep a stiff upper lip." Alfred resisted a snicker seeing as how Arthur was probably much more moody than any hormonal pregnant woman.

She breathed in a long breath through her nose and then let it out as a wistful sigh and delicately hooked her finger around the handle of her tea cup. "I do really hope y'all are right." She brought the rim of the cup to her lips and took a long thoughtful sip.

A small silence had settled in between the three blondes; nothing but the sound of steady breathing and clinking tea cups filled the spacious living room. Alfred was about to break the silence- as it really made the usually chatty American anxious- but Mary Jo beat him to the punch. "So, no to rush y'all or anything, but have you though of any names for the baby yet?" She asked curiously as she placed her now empty cup and saucer back on the table.

Arthur was caught a bit off guard as he reached out and grabbed the tea pot to pour Mary Jo another cup. He thought about it for a moment. In all honesty even though the last few month the baby had been pretty much the only thing on his mind the Brit and his impossible husband really hadn't given much thought as to what to name it. "Uh well uh..." He stammered intelligently as he started rattling every single baby name he could possibly think of in his mind. Just pick two you like. He thought to himself. "We uh, we really haven't talked it over much but uh... I think for a girl I like Abigail or Elizabeth and for a boy... for a boy I think I like..." He took a moment to think about it. "I like... Charlie." Yes, yes he rather liked Charlie.

"Aw, those are such cute names." Mary Jo smiled.

"Hey don't I get a say in this?" Alfred asked as slightly held up one hand.

"Oh well fine then, what do you like for names?" England asked in annoyance. If Arthur was going to ne the "mother" in this parenthood shouldn't he be the one to pick names?

Alfred's blue eyed gaze traveled up to the ceiling as he gave it some thought. "Okay for a girl I like... I think I like Hilary," England made a small noise of disapproval. "Michelle," Another disapproving grunt from the American's petit husband. "Or maybe Laura,"

"Would you stop giving out names of America's bloody first ladies?" Arthur scoffed as he folded his arms across his chest.

Alfred frowned slightly and ignored Arthur's comment as he thought of a boy's name that tickled his fancy. "For a boy I think I like... Cooper." He said his opinion confidently.

"Cooper?" England echoed back in surprise and somewhat disgust. "You want to name our child after my old dog?"

America froze for a second. "Wait, you had a dog?" Alfred usually remembered most of the ting Arthur had told him, but he couldn't remember everything the Brit ever told him.

"Yes, I bought him when he was only a pup and I had him for thirteen years." England spoke as if he was offended that Alfred hadn't remembered that one little detail of his life.

Play it safe and say you remember. "Cooper... Cooper, oh yeah, yeah now I remember he was like a Scottish terrier or something right?" He laughed nervously as he scratched at the back of his neck.

"No, he was a Welsh Corgi. You're not even close." Swing and a miss. Arthur two points, Alfred zip.

Suddenly Mary Jo burst out into laugher, her small shoulders shaking and the corners of her mouth pulled up into a large smile. Alfred and Arthur glanced over at each other and then back at Mary Jo, worried that maybe she had somehow gone off her rocker. "Sorry... I didn't mean to laugh I just... y'all are just too funny." She gasped out in between laughing fits.

The other two blonde just looked at each other for a brief moment before Alfred snickered and soon burst out into laughter with Mary Jo. Arthur soon following suit with only a small chuckle. The three shared a good laugh before Arthur's green eyed gaze slid over to the clock and he noticed how late it was getting.

"Well," He breathed out. "It seems it's getting late. Mary Jo," He said as he turned back to the blonde girl. "You are welcome to spend the night if you wish, we have a guest bedroom upstairs." It seemed as though Nathan wasn't going to be calling her anytime soon and even if he did Arthur really didn't think it was a very good idea for her to be driving on the road this late at night.

Her face became crest fallen at the realization that her dear fiancé wasn't going to be calling and begging for forgiveness tonight. She forced a smile to her lips. "Oh no, no. I really don't want to impose on you guys."

"You're not imposing at all. Besides it's not safe to be driving this late at night." Alfred offered kindly as he stood up from his chair and stretched his arms high above his head; letting each vertebra in his back crack. She was reluctant, but after reassurance from the dynamic duo she agreed and the three of them headed upstairs to turn in for the night.

Alfred moved on ahead down the hall way to his and Arthur' bed room while Arthur hung back and made sure Mary Jo had everything she needed. After bidding each other good night Mary Jo began to head down the hall towards the guest room. "By the way," She said as she stopped mid step and turned back to Arthur and gave him a genuine warm smile. "I really do like the name Charlie."

Okay so this chapter was kind of half assed, but I'm exhausted after a long weekend of prom and post- prom partying. I was also having a bit of writer's block again so please forgive me for the crappy chapter. Still reviews are very much so appreciated. You guys really have no idea your comments mean to me. So in any case thanks for putting up with me and sticking with the story so far. Thanks my lovies I'm so grateful! 3